Automobile transmission.



W. G. LESSERT & B. S. McWlLLIAMS.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 191-5.

Patented Oct. 24, 1916.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

ATTOR NEY WITNESSES W. G. LESSERT & B. S. McWlLLIAMS.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSION. APPLICATION FILED DEC. 3. 1915.

Patnted Oct. 24,1916.

2 SIIEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES ATTORNEY are each provided with an WALTEB G. LESSERT AND BENJAMIN S. IVIQWILLIAMS, 0F GORDON, NEBRASKA.

AUTOMOBILE TRANSMISSIQN.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, \VAL'rnn G. LEssERT and BENJAMIN S. MdWILLiAMs, citizens of the United States, the county of Sheridan and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new anduseful'Improvements in Automobile Transmissions, of which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to an improved automobile transmission and the principal object of the invention is to provide a transmission so constructed that the machine may be driven from the front axle as well as from the rear axle.

Another object of the invention is to provide improved means for transmitting rotary motion from the engine shaft to the axles.

Another object of the invention is to so construct the shafts leading from the axles that one may be rotated independent of the other thus permitting the machine to be driven from one axle in case the transmitting shaft leading to the second axle should become broken. I

This invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein,:- I

Figure 1 is a view in plan showing the transmission applied to an automobile, certain portions of the machine and transmission being shown in'section. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of one end portion of the front axle. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the end portion of the front axle shown in Figf'2.

in Fig. 1 there is shown the frame work 10 of an -automobile. This frame work carries the cross bars 11 and 12 and also carries the axle casings 13 and 14. The casings enlargement which provides a housing 15 for the front axle casing and a housing 16 for the rear axle casing. and 18 extend through the casings 13 and 14 and are provided with the usual differentials 19 and 20 positioned in the housings 15 and 16. These difierentials 19 and 20 are provided with collars formings gear plates 21' and 22 with which the gears 23 and 24 en Specificatioh of Letters Patent.

residing at Gordon, in-

The front and rear axles 17- Patent-ed @ct. ea. rare.

Application filed December a, 1915. Serial nojeaava.

shafts 27 and 28 extend, the inner ends of the shafts mentioned being connected with the differential 31. This difi'erential 31' carries a gear' 32 which is positionedbetween similar gears 33 and 34 as clearly shown in the drawings.

The shaft 35 which is connected with the shaft of the engine 35 is rotatably mounted in the walls of housing 31 and carries a gear 36 which is slidably mounted but turns with the shaft 35. Any suitable shifting means may be provided'for moving the gear 36 to engage gear 32 or selectively engage gear 33 or 3-l. When this gear 36 engages gear 32 both shafts and 26 will be rotated and thus the automobile driven from both axles. If shaft 25 or 26 should be broken or if for any other reason it is desired to drive from only one axle, the gear 36 will be shifted to mesh with the proper gears 33 or 34 and only one axle will then be rotated from the engine. The rear axle carries supporting wheels 37 which are provided with the usual brake drums 38 and the front axle 17 is connected with the spindles 39 which carry the supporting wheel 40.

in order to properly mount the front wheels there have been provided universal joints indicated in general by the numeral 41 in Fig. 1 and in order to permit the wheels to be turned simultaneously when guiding there has been provided a connecting rod or bar 43 which extends across the machine and has its ends connected with the arms 44:. An arm 45 leads from one ofthe wheels and is connected with the steering shaft or rod 46.

The construction of the universal joint is more clearly shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The

universal joints which connect the spindle.

provided with openings in which U-sha-ped' knuckles 50 are pivotally mounted. These knuckles are positioned-at right angles to each other and carry inner U-lshaped yokes 51 extending diagonally of the knuckles 50 but at right angles to each other. These yokes have their inner end portions passing through openings formed in thearms of the brackets 52 which brackets lead from the axle and spindle or are connected with the two sections of the shafts shown in Fig. 1.

.axles will be driving to only drive from one axle the sliding gear will be moved to engage gear 33 or 34 and thus axle 17hr axle 18 alone may be used as the driving axle. 3' What is claimed is:

'1. An automobile comprising a-frame, a driving element, axle casings carried by said frame and provided with housings posi-- .tioned intermediate their length, forward and rear axles rota'tab'ly mounted in said casingsand provlded'with differentials posithe differentials bet oned in said housings, ing provided with collars forminggear p ates, a housing positioned intermediate the length of said frame, a driven shaft having its end portions extending into the housings of saidaxle casings and provided with gears meshing with the gear. plates of the differentials positioned therein, the intermediate portion of said driven shaft extending into the housings carried by said frame, and

provided with a differential, a gear carried by sa1d last mentiorieddifferential, gears carried by said driven shaft upon opposite sides of and a said. differential, a driving shaft, gear slidably carried by said driving shaft and selectively engaging the' gears of said driven shaft.

2. An automobile including a frame, axles, differentials forsaid axles provided with collars constitutingigear plates, a housing' carried by .said frame, a driven shaft passing through said nected with said driven shaft and meshing with thegear plates of said differential, a

differential for said driven shaft, positioned j within said housing and provided with a gear, gears carried by said driven shaft upon.

opposite sides of a differential thereof, a driv ing shaft extending agear slidably mounted upon said driving .with gear plates, With gears meshing with the gears of said and thus both of the 'difi'erentials,

{shaft rotatably mounted mentioned differential differential thereof, a

. carried by housing, gears coninto said housing, vand shaft to rotate with the same and meshing with the gearof the drivenshaft diflerential or with a selected one of the gears carried by said driven shaft upon opposite sides of the differential thereof.

3. An automobile comprising a frame, axles, differentials for said axles provided a driven shaft provided a differential for said driven shaft provided with a gear, gears carried by said driven shaft upon opposite, sides of said last mentioned differential, a driving adjacent said driven shaft, and a gear slidably mounted upon said driving shaft to rotate with the same and meshing with the gear of the last or with a selected one of said last mentioned gears;

4:. An automobile including a frame, axles, a driven shaft extending longitudinally of the frame, means for transmitting rotary motion from said driven shaft to said axles, a differential for-said driven shaft. provided with a gear, gears carried by said driven shaft upon opposite sides of the driving shaft extending longitudinally of the frame, and means for transmitting rotary motion from said driving shaft to said driven shaft through selective engagement with the gear. of the difierential of the driven shaft and the gears carried by said driven shaft.

5. A. transmission of the character described comprising a driving shaft, a driven shaft extending parallel to saidv driving shaft provided with a differential, a gear the differential of said driven shaft, gears carried by said driven shaft upon opposite sides of said differential, a

gear adjustably mounted upon said driving shaft for longitudinal movement thereon and meshing with the gear of said differential or with a selected one of the gears carried by said driven shaft, and axles extending transversely of said driven shaft and rotated therefrom.

In testimony whereof weaafiix our tures in presence of a witness.

' WALTER G. LESSERT.- BENJAMIN S. MOWILLIAMS. Witness:

JOHN W. Tnsamn signa--' 

